Network facsimile transmission originating device, program, and method, and network facsimile relay device, program, and method

Abstract

A network facsimile transmission originating device includes a first mail generator that generates a first e-mail which includes a scanned image to be facsimiled and designates a fax number of a fax destination in a destination mail address field, an encryption unit that encrypts, using a public key of a relay device, at least a portion of the first e-mail generated by the first mail generator, a second mail generator that generates a second e-mail which includes the encrypted first e-mail and designates a mail address of the relay device in a destination mail address field, and a transmitter that transmits the second e-mail generated by the second mail generator to the relay device via a network.

1 . A network facsimile transmission device comprising: 
 a first mail generator that generates a first e-mail which includes a scanned image to be facsimiled and designates a fax number of a fax destination in a destination mail address field;    an encryption unit that encrypts, using a public key of a relay device, at least a portion of the first e-mail generated by the first mail generator;    a second mail generator that generates a second e-mail which includes the encrypted first e-mail and designates a mail address of the relay device in a destination mail address field; and    a transmitter that transmits the second e-mail generated by the second mail generator to the relay device via a network.    
   
   
       2 . The network facsimile transmission device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein 
 the first mail generator designates the fax number in the destination mail address field in accordance with a provision of Request For Comment 3192.    
   
   
       3 . The network facsimile transmission device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein 
 the first mail generator designates, in the destination mail address field of the first e-mail, a single fax number corresponding to a single fax destination.    
   
   
       4 . The network facsimile transmission device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein 
 the first mail generator designates, in the destination mail address field of the first e-mail, a plurality of fax numbers corresponding to a plurality of fax destinations.    
   
   
       5 . The network facsimile transmission device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein 
 the second mail generator generates the second e-mail which includes a plurality of encrypted first e-mails.    
   
   
       6 . A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for transmitting a fax executable by a computer to perform a function comprising: 
 generating a first e-mail which includes a scanned image to be facsimiled and designates a fax number of a fax destination in a destination mail address field;    encrypting, using a public key of a relay device, at least a portion of the first e-mail generated by the first mail generator;    generating a second e-mail which includes the encrypted first e-mail and designates a mail address of the relay device in a destination mail address field; and    transmitting the generated second e-mail to the relay device via a network.    
   
   
       7 . A network facsimile transmitting method, comprising: 
 generating a first e-mail which includes a scanned image to be facsimiled and designates a fax number of a fax destination in a destination mail address field;    encrypting, using a public key of a relay device, at least a portion of the first e-mail generated by the first mail generator;    generating a second e-mail which includes the encrypted first e-mail and designates a mail address of the relay device in a destination mail address field; and    transmitting the generated second e-mail to the relay device via a network.    
   
   
       8 . A network facsimile relay device, comprising: 
 a receiver that receives a second e-mail;    a decryption unit that decrypts a first e-mail which is included in the received second e-mail and is at least partly encrypted using a public key, the decryption unit performing the decryption by means of a private key corresponding to the public key;    an acquisition unit that acquires a fax number of a fax destination from a destination mail address field of the decrypted first e-mail; and    a transmitter that executes a fax transmission of an image included in the decrypted first e-mail to the fax number acquired by the acquisition unit.    
   
   
       9 . The network facsimile relay device as defined in  claim 8 , wherein 
 the fax number is designated in the destination mail address field of the first e-mail in accordance with a provision of Request For Comment 3192; and    the acquisition unit acquires the fax number in accordance with a provision of Request For Comment 3192.    
   
   
       10 . The network facsimile relay device as defined in  claim 8 , wherein 
 a single fax number corresponding to a single fax destination is designated in the destination mail address field of the first e-mail; and    the acquisition unit acquires the fax number.    
   
   
       11 . The network facsimile relay device as defined in  claim 8 , wherein 
 a plurality of fax numbers corresponding to a plurality of fax destinations are designated in the destination mail address field of the first e-mail;    the acquisition unit acquires the plurality of fax numbers; and    the transmitter executes fax transmissions of the image included in the first e-mail to the plurality of fax numbers.    
   
   
       12 . The network facsimile relay device as defined in  claim 8 , wherein 
 the second e-mail includes a plurality of first e-mails;    the decryption unit decrypts the plurality of first e-mails;    the acquisition unit acquires a plurality of fax numbers from the plurality of first e-mails; and    the transmitter executes fax transmissions, to the acquired plurality of fax numbers, of images included in the corresponding first e-mails, respectively.    
   
   
       13 . A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for relaying a facsimile executable by a computer to perform a function comprising: 
 receiving a second e-mail;    decrypting a first e-mail which is included in the received second e-mail and is at least partly encrypted using a public key, the decrypting is performed by means of a private key corresponding to the public key;    acquiring a fax number of a fax destination from a destination mail address field of the decrypted first e-mail; and    executing a fax transmission of an image included in the decrypted first e-mail to the acquired fax number.    
   
   
       14 . A network facsimile relay method, comprising: 
 receiving a second e-mail;    decrypting a first e-mail which is included in the received second e-mail and is at least partly encrypted using a public key, the decrypting is performed by means of a private key corresponding to the public key;    acquiring a fax number of a fax destination from a destination mail address field of the decrypted first e-mail; and    executing a fax transmission of an image included in the decrypted first e-mail to the acquired fax number.